Environmental Impact Statement for the Denton County, TX, Transportation Authority Commuter Rail Project, 12420-12421 [06-2337]

Download as PDF 12420 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 47 / Friday, March 10, 2006 / Notices Paulson, in writing or by fax, in order to be put on the agenda. Annette Paulson, Acting Public Information Officer, SBA, North Florida District Office, 7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite 100B, Jacksonville, FL 32256–7504, phone (904) 443–1914, fax (904) 443– 1380, e-mail: Annette.paulson@sba.gov. For more information, see our Web site at https://www.sba.gov/ombudsman. information may be found at https:// exchanges.state.gov/culprop. The meeting on March 23–24 will be closed pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B) and 19 U.S.C. 2605(h). Matthew K. Becker, Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. E6–3397 Filed 3–9–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–05–P BILLING CODE 8025–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Dated: March 2, 2006. C. Miller Crouch, Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. E6–3461 Filed 3–9–06; 8:45 am] Federal Transit Administration DEPARTMENT OF STATE Environmental Impact Statement for the Denton County, TX, Transportation Authority Commuter Rail Project Notice of Meeting of the Cultural Property Advisory Committee dsatterwhite on PROD1PC65 with PROPOSAL [Public Notice 5325] AGENCY: In accordance with the provisions of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) (the Act) there will be a meeting of the Cultural Property Advisory Committee on Thursday, March 23, 2006, from approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Friday, March 24, from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Department of State, Annex 44, Room 840, 301 4th St., SW., Washington, DC. At this meeting the Committee will conduct its ongoing review function with respect to the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Peru Concerning the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Archaeological Material from the PreHispanic Cultures and Certain Ethnological Material from the Colonial Period; and, with respect to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus Concerning the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Pre-Classical and Classical Archaeological Objects. This meeting is for the Committee to satisfy its ongoing review responsibility of the effectiveness of agreements pursuant to the Act and will focus its attention on Article II of the MOUs. This is not a meeting to consider extension of the MOUs. Such a meeting or meetings will be scheduled at some time in the future at which time a public session will be held. The Committee’s responsibilities are carried out in accordance with provisions of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.). The U.S.—Peru MOU, the U.S.—Cyprus MOU, the designated lists of restricted categories, the text of the Act, and related VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:31 Mar 09, 2006 Jkt 208001 Federal Transit Administration, DOT. Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). ACTION: SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) issue this notice to advise interested agencies and the public of their intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for transportation improvements in Denton and Dallas Counties, Texas. Transit improvements will be considered generally between Denton and Carrollton along the former Missouri Kansas Texas (MKT) Railroad line that parallels I–35E, as recommended by the DCTA Board of Directors in May 2005 following a study of the transportation needs in the corridor and an analysis of alternative solutions. The relationships of concurrent projects such as the I–35E Environmental Analysis (EA) being conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the Northwest Corridor Light Rail Transit project being advanced by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), and others, will also be considered in the EIS process. Transportation improvements are needed to meet current and future travel demands and to upgrade the transportation facilities in the corridor. The EIS will evaluate the recommended regional rail alignment, the No-Build Alternative, a Transportation Systems Management (TSM) alternative, and any additional reasonable alternatives that emerge from scoping. DATES: Comment Due Date: Written or electronic comments on the scope of the EIS, including the purpose and need for transportation action in the corridor, PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and alternatives and impacts to be considered, should be sent to the project team’s public involvement coordinator (see ADDRESSES below) by March 31, 2006. Scoping Meetings: Public scoping meetings will be held on February 28, 2006, in Denton, TX, and March 2,20076, in Lewisville, TX, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the locations shown in ADDRESSES below. ADDRESSES: Written or electronic comments on the EIS scope should be sent to: Judy Meyer, Public Involvement Lead, c/o Public Information Associates, P.O. Box 570, Allen, Texas 75013; Phone: 888–724–5328; Fax: 214–495– 0479; E-mail: Judy.Meyer@dfwair.net. Scoping meetings will be held at the following locations: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 6–8 p.m., Martin Luther King Recreation Center, 1300 Wilson St., Denton, TX 76205. Thursday, March 2, 2006 6–8 p.m., Lewisville Senior Center, 1950 S. Valley Parkway, Lewisville, TX 75067. Information on the time and place of the public scoping meetings will be provided in the local newspapers and other media outlets. The scoping information packet is available on the Internet at https://www.RailDCTA.net. The packet is also available in hardcopy form by contacting Judy Meyer as indicated above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Sweek, Community Planner, Federal Transit Administration, Region VI; (817) 978–0550. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Scoping of the EIS The FTA, in cooperation with the DCTA, will prepare an EIS for transportation improvements along the MKT Railroad line that parallels I–35E between Denton and Carrollton. Interested individuals, organizations, businesses and Federal, state and local agencies are invited to participate in determining the scope of the EIS, including the purpose and need for transportation action in the corridor, alternative alignments, alternative station locations, impacts to be evaluate, and environmental or community resources to be protected. Specific suggestions on additional alternatives to be examined and issues to be addressed are welcome and will be considered in the development in the final study scope. Scoping comments may be made orally or in writing not later than March 31, 2006. See DATES and ADDRESSES above. Additional information on the EIS process, the purpose and need, alternatives, and anticipated impact E:\FR\FM\10MRN1.SGM 10MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 47 / Friday, March 10, 2006 / Notices issues are available from DCTA. See DATES and ADDRESSES above. The EIS will evaluate transit improvement alternatives, the NoAction alternative, and a Transportation System Management (TSM) alternative based on the Purpose and Need statement developed for the corridor during the previous Alternatives Analysis (AA). The AA document is available for public review on the Internet at https://www.RailDCTA.net or by contacting the project office at the address in ADDRESSES above. The AA document will also be available for review at the public scoping meetings. Alternatives will be reviewed and analyzed through an extensive agency and community outreach process. The EIS evaluation will result in a decision about which transportation projects, if any, will be built to address the states purpose and need for transportation action in the corridor. dsatterwhite on PROD1PC65 with PROPOSAL II. Description of Study Area and Project Need The study area for the EIS evaluation is the travelshed that parallels I–35E between Denton and Carrollton. The purpose of the proposed action is to decrease congestion, and improve safety, access, and mobility. More details are available in the scoping information packet. See ADDRESSES above. III. Alternatives To Be Considered The alternatives evaluated in the EIS will include, but not limited to, the recommended Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) developed in the AA, and approved by the DCTA Board of Directors in May 2005. This alternative consisted of Regional Rail (also called Commuter Rail) on the MKT alignment. Feeder bus improvements also were included as part of the recommended LPA. In addition, an existing bicycle/ hiking trail on the northern portion of the corridor would be relocated within the railroad right-of-way as a ‘rails-withtrails’ facility. Five stations were proposed on the alignment during the AA: downtown Denton; south Denton; north Lewisville; downtown Lewisville; and south Lewisville; with a connection to the DART light rail station at Belt Line in Carrollton. The EIS will again examine other reasonable alternatives emerge from scoping. These may include alternatives that were screened out during the AA but that may now be available due to recent demographic trends, anticipated funding levels, or technological advances. The EIS will also evaluate the appropriate end-of-line and associated facilities and connections into the VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:31 Mar 09, 2006 Jkt 208001 DART system in Carrollton and in downtown Denton. As part of the transit evaluation, station locations, railyard facilities, and other ancillary facilities such as stormwater management systems will be studied and identified as appropriate. The EIS will also fully evaluate the No-Action Alternative and a TSM alternative. Other alternatives may be added as a result of scoping and agency coordination efforts. IV. Probable Effects/Potential Impacts for Analysis The EIS evaluation will analyze social, economic, and environmental impacts of the alternatives. Major issues to be evaluated include air quality, noise and vibration, aesthetics, community cohesion impacts, and possible disruption of neighborhoods, businesses and commercial activities. The impact areas and level of detail addressed in the EIS will be consistent with the requirements of SAFETEA–LU Section 6002 and the FTA/Federal Highway Administration environmental regulation (Environmental Impact and Related Procedures, 23 CFR part 771 and 40 CFR parts 1500–1508) and other environmental and related regulations. Among other factors, the EIS will evaluate: • Transportation service including future corridor capacity; • Transit ridership and costs; • Traffic movements and changes and associated impacts to local facilities; • Community impacts such as land use, displacements, noise and vibration, neighborhood compatibility and aesthetics; and • Resource impacts including impacts to historic and archaeological resources, parklands, cultural resource impacts, environmental justice, and natural resource impacts including air quality, wetlands, water quality, and wildlife. The proposed impact assessment and evaluation will take into account both positive and negative impacts, direct and indirect impacts, short-term (during the construction period) and long-terms impacts, and site-specific as well as corridor-wide impacts. Mitigation measures will be identified for any adverse environmental impacts that are identified. Other potential impacts may be added as a result of scoping and agency coordination efforts. Issued on: March 7, 2006. Robert C. Patrick, Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Fort Worth, Texas. [FR Doc. 06–2337 Filed 3–9–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–57–M PO 00000 Frm 00089 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12421 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Docket No. NHTSA–2005–21845; Notice 2] Decision That Nonconforming 2005 Mercedes Benz Type 463 Short Wheelbase Gelaendewagen Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of decision by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that nonconforming 2005 Mercedes Benz Type 463 short wheelbase Gelaendewagen multipurpose passenger vehicles are eligible for importation. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This document announces a decision by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that certain 2005 Mercedes Benz Type 463 short wheelbase Gelaendewagen multipurpose passenger vehicles that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because they have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all applicable FMVSS. DATES: This decision was effective September 23, 2005. The agency notified the petitioner at that time that the petition had been granted. This document provides public notice of that decision. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202–366–3151). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not originally manufactured to conform to all applicable FMVSS shall be refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States, certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and of the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be compared, and is capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable FMVSS. Where there is no substantially similar U.S.-certified motor vehicle, 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(B) permits a nonconforming motor vehicle to be admitted into the United States if its safety features comply with, or are E:\FR\FM\10MRN1.SGM 10MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12420-12421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2337]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for the Denton County, TX, 
Transportation Authority Commuter Rail Project

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Denton County 
Transportation Authority (DCTA) issue this notice to advise interested 
agencies and the public of their intent to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the regulations implementing 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for transportation 
improvements in Denton and Dallas Counties, Texas. Transit improvements 
will be considered generally between Denton and Carrollton along the 
former Missouri Kansas Texas (MKT) Railroad line that parallels I-35E, 
as recommended by the DCTA Board of Directors in May 2005 following a 
study of the transportation needs in the corridor and an analysis of 
alternative solutions. The relationships of concurrent projects such as 
the I-35E Environmental Analysis (EA) being conducted by the Texas 
Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the Northwest Corridor Light Rail 
Transit project being advanced by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), 
and others, will also be considered in the EIS process.
    Transportation improvements are needed to meet current and future 
travel demands and to upgrade the transportation facilities in the 
corridor. The EIS will evaluate the recommended regional rail 
alignment, the No-Build Alternative, a Transportation Systems 
Management (TSM) alternative, and any additional reasonable 
alternatives that emerge from scoping.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written or electronic comments on the scope of 
the EIS, including the purpose and need for transportation action in 
the corridor, and alternatives and impacts to be considered, should be 
sent to the project team's public involvement coordinator (see 
ADDRESSES below) by March 31, 2006. Scoping Meetings: Public scoping 
meetings will be held on February 28, 2006, in Denton, TX, and March 
2,20076, in Lewisville, TX, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the locations 
shown in ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: Written or electronic comments on the EIS scope should be 
sent to: Judy Meyer, Public Involvement Lead, c/o Public Information 
Associates, P.O. Box 570, Allen, Texas 75013; Phone: 888-724-5328; Fax: 
214-495-0479; E-mail: Judy.Meyer@dfwair.net.
    Scoping meetings will be held at the following locations:

Tuesday, February 28, 2006
    6-8 p.m., Martin Luther King Recreation Center, 1300 Wilson St., 
Denton, TX 76205.
Thursday, March 2, 2006
6-8 p.m., Lewisville Senior Center, 1950 S. Valley Parkway, Lewisville, 
TX 75067.
    Information on the time and place of the public scoping meetings 
will be provided in the local newspapers and other media outlets. The 
scoping information packet is available on the Internet at https://
www.RailDCTA.net. The packet is also available in hardcopy form by 
contacting Judy Meyer as indicated above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Sweek, Community Planner, Federal 
Transit Administration, Region VI; (817) 978-0550.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping of the EIS

    The FTA, in cooperation with the DCTA, will prepare an EIS for 
transportation improvements along the MKT Railroad line that parallels 
I-35E between Denton and Carrollton. Interested individuals, 
organizations, businesses and Federal, state and local agencies are 
invited to participate in determining the scope of the EIS, including 
the purpose and need for transportation action in the corridor, 
alternative alignments, alternative station locations, impacts to be 
evaluate, and environmental or community resources to be protected. 
Specific suggestions on additional alternatives to be examined and 
issues to be addressed are welcome and will be considered in the 
development in the final study scope. Scoping comments may be made 
orally or in writing not later than March 31, 2006. See DATES and 
ADDRESSES above. Additional information on the EIS process, the purpose 
and need, alternatives, and anticipated impact

[[Page 12421]]

issues are available from DCTA. See DATES and ADDRESSES above.
    The EIS will evaluate transit improvement alternatives, the No-
Action alternative, and a Transportation System Management (TSM) 
alternative based on the Purpose and Need statement developed for the 
corridor during the previous Alternatives Analysis (AA). The AA 
document is available for public review on the Internet at https://
www.RailDCTA.net or by contacting the project office at the address in 
ADDRESSES above. The AA document will also be available for review at 
the public scoping meetings. Alternatives will be reviewed and analyzed 
through an extensive agency and community outreach process. The EIS 
evaluation will result in a decision about which transportation 
projects, if any, will be built to address the states purpose and need 
for transportation action in the corridor.

II. Description of Study Area and Project Need

    The study area for the EIS evaluation is the travelshed that 
parallels I-35E between Denton and Carrollton. The purpose of the 
proposed action is to decrease congestion, and improve safety, access, 
and mobility. More details are available in the scoping information 
packet. See ADDRESSES above.

III. Alternatives To Be Considered

    The alternatives evaluated in the EIS will include, but not limited 
to, the recommended Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) developed in 
the AA, and approved by the DCTA Board of Directors in May 2005. This 
alternative consisted of Regional Rail (also called Commuter Rail) on 
the MKT alignment. Feeder bus improvements also were included as part 
of the recommended LPA. In addition, an existing bicycle/hiking trail 
on the northern portion of the corridor would be relocated within the 
railroad right-of-way as a `rails-with-trails' facility. Five stations 
were proposed on the alignment during the AA: downtown Denton; south 
Denton; north Lewisville; downtown Lewisville; and south Lewisville; 
with a connection to the DART light rail station at Belt Line in 
Carrollton.
    The EIS will again examine other reasonable alternatives emerge 
from scoping. These may include alternatives that were screened out 
during the AA but that may now be available due to recent demographic 
trends, anticipated funding levels, or technological advances. The EIS 
will also evaluate the appropriate end-of-line and associated 
facilities and connections into the DART system in Carrollton and in 
downtown Denton. As part of the transit evaluation, station locations, 
railyard facilities, and other ancillary facilities such as stormwater 
management systems will be studied and identified as appropriate.
    The EIS will also fully evaluate the No-Action Alternative and a 
TSM alternative. Other alternatives may be added as a result of scoping 
and agency coordination efforts.

IV. Probable Effects/Potential Impacts for Analysis

    The EIS evaluation will analyze social, economic, and environmental 
impacts of the alternatives. Major issues to be evaluated include air 
quality, noise and vibration, aesthetics, community cohesion impacts, 
and possible disruption of neighborhoods, businesses and commercial 
activities. The impact areas and level of detail addressed in the EIS 
will be consistent with the requirements of SAFETEA-LU Section 6002 and 
the FTA/Federal Highway Administration environmental regulation 
(Environmental Impact and Related Procedures, 23 CFR part 771 and 40 
CFR parts 1500-1508) and other environmental and related regulations. 
Among other factors, the EIS will evaluate:
     Transportation service including future corridor capacity;
     Transit ridership and costs;
     Traffic movements and changes and associated impacts to 
local facilities;
     Community impacts such as land use, displacements, noise 
and vibration, neighborhood compatibility and aesthetics; and
     Resource impacts including impacts to historic and 
archaeological resources, parklands, cultural resource impacts, 
environmental justice, and natural resource impacts including air 
quality, wetlands, water quality, and wildlife.
    The proposed impact assessment and evaluation will take into 
account both positive and negative impacts, direct and indirect 
impacts, short-term (during the construction period) and long-terms 
impacts, and site-specific as well as corridor-wide impacts. Mitigation 
measures will be identified for any adverse environmental impacts that 
are identified.
    Other potential impacts may be added as a result of scoping and 
agency coordination efforts.

    Issued on: March 7, 2006.
Robert C. Patrick,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Fort Worth, 
Texas.
[FR Doc. 06-2337 Filed 3-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-M

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